Two teams at opposite ends of the NHL standings meet when the Winnipeg Jets open a three-game road trip against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Winnipeg is among the league leaders with 62 points, while Ottawa sits near the bottom of the points race.
The Jets, who saw their 14-game point streak end with a 2-0 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Flyers last Saturay, finished their four-game homestand with a 4-2 win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
Four different players lit the lamp for the Jets and Connor Hellebuyck made 35 saves. He has allowed two or fewer goals in 19 of his last 20 starts.
“When you go on such a long win streak and then you drop one game, you want to get right back to your winning ways,” said Mason Appleton, who scored for the Jets on Tuesday. “We think that good teams don’t lose two games in a row, especially at home, so that was a big win for our club.”
Winnipeg improved to 17-2-2 over its past 21 games.
Forward Kyle Connor, who missed the previous 16 games with a knee injury, scored into an empty net to cap the 4-2 win.
“You give him the puck and something good is going to happen,” Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said. “Give him credit, because most guys take two or three games to get their timing and their reads and everything. He just stepped in there tonight like he hadn’t missed 16 games.”
Jets forward Mark Scheifele will travel with the team, but will not play Saturday. He has not skated or worked out after a lower body injury on Jan. 11.
After a five-game road losing streak, the Senators are happy to be home again. They have won two of three on their current homestand and four of their last six on their own ice.
Tim Stutzle had a goal and two assists for the Senators in a 6-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Brady Tkachuk and Parker Kelly each had a goal and an assist, Artem Zub had two assists, and Joonas Korpisalo made 21 saves.
“I thought it was a really good effort for 60 minutes,” Senators coach Jacques Martin said. “I thought we played on our toes. The last couple of games, I like the amount of time we’re spending in the offensive zone. I think that’s a good sign. … I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
After compiling one assist over seven games, Stutzle has seven points (one goal, six assists) in the past three games.
“I haven’t been playing the way I want to play. The last three games, I think I’ve got my confidence back,” Stutzle said. “I think the whole group, I mean, we’re getting pucks to the net, we’ve got guys on the goalie, and it makes the job easier.”
Tkachuk has been hot as well, scoring seven points (two goals, five assists) during a three-game point streak.
The Senators signed forward Shane Pinto, 23, to a one-year contract on Friday, but he will not be eligible until Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Jets and Senators are meeting for the first time this season.
–Field Level Media
